Supreme Court rules government must advertise on Channel 13

Argentine Supreme Court (TÉLAM)

The Supreme Court of Justice ordered the National Government to include the television station Canal 13 in its official advertising deals, and warned that “the violation of a judiciary sentence would constitute a threat to the division of powers”.

The sentence was divided 6-1: judges Ricardo Lorenzetti, Carlos Fayt, Elena Highton, Juan Carlos Maqueda, Carmen Argibay and Enrique Petracchi voted in favor of “Grupo Artear”, while Raúl Zaffaroni considered the Supreme Court should have first consulted the Public Prosecution before taking a stand.

“Grupo Artear” complained that the Cristina Fernandez the Kirchner’s administration has “a discriminatory attitude” towards Canal 13, as the TV channel does not receive any government funding by way of advertising.

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of “Grupo Artear”, citing previous cases of Río Negro newspaper in 2007 and Diario Perfil in 2011, where the same sentence was reached by the Court "to favor free speech”.